Production Manager

Also known as:

Factory Manager
Manufacturing Production Manager
Operations Manager

Introduction

Production managers organise workers and materials in the manufacturing industry. They make sure production is efficient. They sort out problems, such as machine breakdowns or absent staff. They plan future production.

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Work Activities

Production managers plan how to make the best use of employees' time and skills, and material resources, to make sure production is efficient. They make sure orders are completed on time and meet customers' requirements.

They work in manufacturing industries and the job varies according to the particular industry.

Most production managers have responsibilities on the shop floor as well as office based duties. They often act as a link between shop floor managers and senior management. They make sure the production line runs smoothly, they supervise staff and deal with labour problems or machine failures.

They check that the necessary raw materials are in stock and that there is enough storage space for finished goods. They may also be responsible for safety procedures.

When planning future production, production managers consider the cost of raw materials, new product designs, anticipated staffing levels and technological developments. They use computers to aid the collection and analysis of data required for forward planning.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You must have good communication skills, and it is essential that you can persuade and influence people.

You need to have initiative, to be able to prioritise, to make decisions quickly and set targets. Good problem solving skills are essential. You need a good standard of numeracy and the ability to plan ahead.

You will have to meet tight production deadlines, so you must be able to work effectively under pressure. Understanding the techniques and processes of your industry is important. With the increase in new technology, employers often prefer to recruit people with technical skills.

In some sectors, production managers need technical knowledge and qualifications, for example, in engineering.

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Pay and Opportunities

Salaries for production managers vary depending on the company and responsibilities.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Production managers earn in the range of £21,000 - £28,000 a year, rising to £37,000 - £45,000. Higher earners can make around £51,000 a year, and higher salaries are possible.

Production managers usually work a 39-hour week, which may include shift work and work at weekends.

Employers throughout the UK are manufacturers across a wide range of industries.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Working as a production assistant/supervisor can lead on to entry into trainee/junior management-level posts, possibly through doing SVQs, as noted above.

Skills and abilities gained in production processes and/or related areas, such as quality control or manufacturing engineering, can be useful.

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course could be the way in. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

• 2% of people in occupations such as production manager work part-time.
• 8% have flexible hours.

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New Developments

Some people working in this occupation may be involved in the green jobs sector in areas such as renewable energy or waste management.